U’s aim to keep pace with leaders

Hastings United are aiming to be with a chance of the league title by the time they face the present leaders in the penultimate game of the season.

United are currently fourth in Ryman Football League Division One South and trail pacesetters Peacehaven & Telscombe - who they will visit on Easter Monday - by 15 points with a game in hand.

All of United’s next six games are against teams in the bottom eight of the table and assistant boss Ben White says it’s vital they gain a good return from that sequence.

He said: “We’ve got to be looking to get probably round about 15 points out of those games. If we do that, we’re probably cemented in there (the play-off positions).

“But for us it’s more than just nicking a play-off spot; it’s about keeping in there with Peacehaven for as long as we can. Our aim is to go into that match (against Peacehaven) still in it; then we can have a go at them. We don’t want to be going to Peacehaven out of it.

“Our next aim is to finish as high in the table as possible because it will give us the home advantage in the play-offs.”

United are 11 points behind second-placed Leatherhead having played two fewer matches going into the trip to Walton & Hersham today (Saturday). Kenny Pogue is back in the fold, while Tim Olorunda will return when he’s ready following the death of his father.